5 Ways to Bless Others With Your Used Books

You just finished a great book. Smiling, with a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, you think back to how much you enjoyed it. The plot, the characters, that ending that you didn’t see coming. Then you put the book down. Maybe on a coffee table or desk. Then after about a week, it gets moved to a bookshelf or a box. Just to sit and grow dusty.

Do you ever find yourself thinking that you really should pass the book onto someone else who may want to read it? I know I do!

Books are meant to be read. To be enjoyed. Don’t let those already read copies sit on a shelf. Pay it forward and give it to someone else who would enjoy it. But how do you find these people? Sometimes the thought of finding someone who will enjoy it is daunting enough we just don’t do it. We want to help you overcome that overwhelm and bless others with the books you’re no longer using.

Here are our top five ways to easily bless others with your used books.

Post it to your personal Facebook Page

Several times, just for kicks, I’ve taken a picture of one of my recent reads and posted it to my personal Facebook Page with a simple note like, I just finished this great book. Who wants it next? Comment below and I’ll send it to you! Many times the people to comment are not people I would have thought would be interested in the book. It lets me know who would really enjoy it and it’s a fun and easy way to reconnect with people in your Facebook world that you may not have connected with in awhile.

Add it to a Little Library

Have you seen these popping up around your town? Little boxes with books in them for you to check out and share? Throw a book or two in your car and the next time you see a Little Library, pull over and put the book inside. Do you like to be a little more intentional about things? You can find a Little Library near you here.

Donate them to your Public Library

Public Libraries are always looking for books. Contact yours to see if they are in need of some of your favorites. If they cannot use it personally, many libraries hold book sales you can donate to where the proceeds will then go back to your local library.

Offer them to others in Facebook Groups You Enjoy

I have seen this done in a couple Facebook Groups I am a part of and LOVE the idea. Readers paying it forward to other readers. People they don’t know. People that are part of a community of fellow readers. Put out a post out when you finish a book. Ask them to comment below if they’d like it and then they draw a winner at random. It’s amazing how once one person starts it in a group, how the idea seems to take off and more people join in the fun.

Donate them to a Nursing Home or Hospital

Think of places where people may have a lot of time to sit and could use the comfort a good book can bring. Find the places like that near you and show them some love with some great books. This can be a nursing home, hospital, or waiting room.

We all love a good book. We also all love to feel special. Sharing a book with someone is a great way to make them feel special. To let them know you cared enough to take a couple extra minutes to pass along something to brighten their day. And my guess is, doing something to bless someone else, will brighten your day as well.

What are your favorite ways to bless others with your used books? Let us know in the comments.